Weather - Here are some samples of the forecast that you'll most likely get to hear (depending on the month of the year) if someone had taken the trouble to read them to you:

• november-to-april : hot, sunny and windy with temperatures rising from the mid-30's and sinking to the mid-20's (much, much) later in the evening. There's a cool, dry easterly wind blowing at oh-so-many km/hr and sea conditions are generally fair!
• May-to-July : hot and sunny weather with temperatures rising to the mid-30's and sinking to the low 20's later in the evening, with the westerly wind blowing at oh-so-many km/hr bringing intermittent rain showers. Expect thunderstorms once in a while. Sea conditions are generally fair.
• August-to-October : warm, humid and partly cloudy with some heavy rain expected anytime during the day or/and in the evening. Temperatures hovering between the low-30's to the low-20's. Winds coming from all directions at oh-so-many km/hr and sea conditions are occasionally dangerous to small boats.

Weekend - Thank God it's Friday! However, this expression of exhilaration does NOT apply here--even if it does, then, for some of the people, but only twice a month!
Elsewhere in the "civilised" world, the weekend is a time to relax and rejuvenate yourself after a hectic 5-day week. But, in Malaysia with Langkawi in particular, confusion reigns! Here's why...
The banks, along with some other businesses, have certain Saturdays, and all Sundays off; meanwhile, schools have Friday-Saturday as their weekend.
To complete the confusion, all governmental offices - along with some other businesses, have the 1st & 3rd Thursdays off. The 2nd & 4th Thursdays will be full-working-days while the 5th (should there be) being only a half-working day with Fridays as the obligatory day off.
A long-weekend is only possible if a public holiday were to fall on either a Friday or Saturday, following the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month. Because, if it were to fall on those Thursdays, then the "extra" day off would be carried forward to the following Thursday.
Please note, the above is only valid for all governmental offices, but does not necessarily apply to banks or schools.
Confused? Told you earlier that the weekend is a time for confusion, didn't I?

X is for...

X-mas - More commonly referred to as Christmas, but, as there is NOT a lot that one can do with this particular alphabet, so this is where you will "find" Christmas in LANGKAWiPUR. Which, is rather appropriate because there are a lot of Europeans spending Christmas in Langkawi! It's quite unclear if it's the sun that they miss or they're trying to escape the commercialization of the festive season... however, they should be pleased with the knowledge that the "spirit" of Christmas is present in Langkawi--and at duty-free prices! Another reason to be merry on this day is that it is a public holiday and Malaysians are just looking for an excuse to get "wasted." In any event, it is NOT the orthodox approach to observing "Silent night, Holy night"!

Y is for...

Yacht - If you are fortunate (and rich) enough to be able to afford one of this, then you'll have a wonderful time sailing it around the sheltered waters of Langkawi. Or, you could take it out to the open sea and really let it "fly." There is also one kind of regatta or another held once so often throughout the year. And, after you're done with the sailing, there are a couple of marinas where you can afford to moor that expensive "toy" until the next time you have the urge to play with it again!

Yes - That's an affirmative! Besides "No" it must be, perhaps, the most easily memorized English word.
Generally, Malaysians are nice and friendly people. They are so nice and friendly that they cannot say "No!" and you'd know it when you find yourself having this type of conversation:

Z is for...

Zoo - Well, actually it is NOT a zoological garden per se, but rather a site where they keep lots of snakes and a few other animals! Maybe, that is why they call it a "Mini Zoo."
In any case, if those slithery reptiles are your "thaaang" then... what on earth are you waiting for? Naturally, as added attractions, there are some daring "snake-shows" that have become obligatory for such establishments, and are staged at certain times of the day. Check the local listings for details!

Zzzzz - That means sleep! Yes, after all that exertion it is time to end the day with some deep "ZeeZee's" and this is definitely the place for it!
There was once a German tourist who all her life suffered from insomnia... until of course she discovered Langkawi!
Wonder if the time is right for someone to start a legend on that!

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